The Bartlett Lab in the Department of Viticulture & Enology at the University of California, Davis is seeking an enthusiastic and hard-working summer technician to assist in research to find root traits that can be used to improve crop drought tolerance. The selected technician will manage a combined greenhouse and vineyard drought experiment on a diverse set of grapevine rootstocks. Responsibilities will include weighing and watering pots to maintain precise experimental drought treatments, using plant physiology equipment to measure root drought tolerance traits and monitor plant water stress and photosynthesis, and harvesting and measuring plant biomass growth. The selected technician will also supervise the undergraduate research students who are assisting with this work. The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience with greenhouse and field experiments, plant physiology and drought tolerance, and viticultural practices.
The successful candidate must have a background in plant biology and strong critical-thinking skills, attention to detail, and a positive attitude. Previous experience with plant biology or physiology research, especially experience using pressure bombs and LI-COR photosynthesis systems, is strongly preferred.
The position will start as early as possible in June and continue through September, though there may be opportunities to continue involvement with this and related research for another year. Salary is $20.54/hr. The greenhouse drought experiment may require several hours of work on the weekends, over a period of 4 – 6 weeks: this work is compensated at 1.5x time the standard rate. To apply, please send (1) a CV, (2) a brief (max. 2 pg) cover letter addressing these qualifications and your previous experience with research, (3) an unofficial transcript, and (4) contact information for 3 references as a single PDF tomkbartlett@ucdavis.edu. Review of applications will begin on 5/30/19.